MAM
Aashirvaad Svasthi ghee adds a love aroma to Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha
Mumbai: During the sacred occasion of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Lord Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on this month, Aashirvaad Svasthi, ITC’s Ghee brand, is set to spread and imbue the ‘Aro-Ma of Love’ in the Temple. In a gesture of devotion, ITC will be providing Aashirvaad Svasti pure cow ghee which will illuminate thousands of Diyas (lamps) during the auspicious day marking the homecoming of Lord Ram in the newly constructed Ram Mandir.
Also, in celebration of the Ram Mandir’s inauguration in Ayodhya, ITC’s social investment program, Mission Sunhera Kal, has strengthened its collaboration with the Ayodhya Nagar Nigam. The Swachh ‘Teerth’ campaign has been launched encompassing multi-dimensional interventions. As part of this effort, over 1,000 dustbins made from recycled plastic have been distributed to local vendors. These vendors have taken a ‘shapath’ that is committed to a pledge to ensure the effective utilisation of these bins, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable environment in the city.
As part of the Swachh ‘Teerth’ campaign, more than 200 Plastic Collection Boxes, constructed from recycled plastic and with a capacity of 290 litres each, have been strategically placed at various locations. A team of over 200 trained volunteers will be actively involved in overseeing the waste collection process. ITC has been associated with Ayodhya Nagar Nigam and collaborates with the Urban Local Body under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. In the coming months, the installation of composters and bio-gas units is planned with the support of Ayodhya Nagar Nigam.
ITC Aashirvaad Svasthi Ghee takes pride in actively participating and enhancing the celebrations of the devotees during the Ram Nadir inauguration. To become a devotion enabler, ITC has collaborated with the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra to contribute to the momentous occasion of the Nutan Vigrah Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lallaji.
In a warm gesture to welcome all devotees visiting the sacred city of Ayodhya, ITC Aashirvaad Svasthi Ghee has adorned prominent locations with banners and signages. These welcoming displays can be found at key locations such as the airport, railway station, entrance of the Ram Mandir and other significant temples across the city.
The Pran Pratishtha ceremony in the New Ram Mandir, is a momentous event for Hindus, signifying the establishment of the life force within a deity’s idol. This transformative ritual endows the idol with divine essence, allowing it to receive prayers and bestow blessings on devotees. Believed to be enduring, the divine presence persists for eternity after the ceremony. The Ram Mandir signifies and is revered as Lord Ram’s birthplace, holds immense spiritual importance and is poised to become a key pilgrimage site, attracting devotees from across the world.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
